KUALA LUMPUR: A single mother who survived being shot in the lung by the police three years ago is suing the Inspector-General of Police and the Government.

She said that the police firing at her without justification.

Norizan Salleh, 32, also named the officer who allegedly shot her, Mohd Firdaus, and the Sentul police chief as defendants respectively.

She filed the suit through her counsel N. Surendran and Latheefa Koya, of Lawyers for Liberty, at the High Court registry here on Monday.

In her statement of claim, Norizan said at 4am on Oct 30 2010, a police patrol approached the car in which she was a passenger and Mohd Firdaus suddenly opened fire, injuring her wrist, arm and chest.

When her car stopped, she tried to get out but was kicked back into the car by Mohd Firdaus, and later he stepped on her when she crawled out of the vehicle, she said.

She claimed that about 14 to 20 police officers arrived at the scene.

She was taken to Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL), where she underwent surgery.

Norizan said she also had surgery at the National Heart Institute (IJN), where a bullet was removed from her lung.

On Nov 11, 2009, she made a report at the Kepong police station, claiming the defendants had committed assault and battery against her.

Norizan claimed that she had not committed any crime that would justify such action, adding that the police had not brought any charge against her in the three years since the incident.

Counsel N. Surendran told reporters that police had failed to follow proper procedure when trying to stop the vehicle his client was in.

“Police shouldn’t just shoot at cars when there is no sign that the passengers are armed. Even if they wanted to stop the car, why didn’t they shoot at the tires instead,” he said.

Counsel Latheefa said of the passengers in the car at the time of the incident, only Norizan was applying for a suit as she was the only one injured.

A medical report by HKL dated May 12, 2010 noted that Norizan had puncture wounds to the wrist, forearm, right arm and chest, adding that a bullet was lodged in her lung.

Norizan is seeking special damages of RM18,326 to cover her medical expenses, as well as general and exemplary damages, interests, costs and any relief deemed fit by the court.

“Because of these injuries, I have breathing problems and cannot carry heavy objects, which has impaired my ability to work,” said Norizan, who is currently unemployed.

She was accompanied by her son Muhammad Nuaim Zuhair, 13, and her father Salleh Arifin, 62, when she filed her suit.

By Qishin Tariq, The Star, Monday, 15 October 2012